In the meanwhile Elizabeth listlessly stretched herself upon a divan, and laughingly said to Alexis, who sat by her side:  “Oh, it is very pleasant to be an empress.  Only see how happy they all are, and it is I alone who make them so; for out of these common soldiers I have created respectable officers, and have converted serfs into barons and gentlemen!  I thank you, Alexis, for impelling me to become an empress.  It is a noble pleasure, and I should now be unwilling to return to that still and uneventful life that formerly pleased me so well!  I will so manage that the Empress Elizabeth shall be as little troubled with labor and business as the princess, and the empress can doubtlessly procure for herself more pleasures than could the princess!  Yes, certainly, I will now remain what I am, am empress by the grace of God!”

A thundering shout and loud laughter here interrupted Elizabeth.  The dice had decided!  The cook of the empress had won, and become a councillor of state.

Elizabeth laughed.  “These dice are very witty,” said she, “for certainly the cook must be a privy councillor!  I establish you in your dignity, Feodor, your title is recognized!  Now for a new trial.  Two thousand rubles is the prize, which I think of more value than a title!”

There was a zealous pressing and shoving, a pushing and puffing; every one desired to be the first to get hold of the dice and struggle for the rich prize.  There were many ungentle encounters, many a thrust in the ribs, many invectives, many a gross, unseemly word; the empress saw all, heard all, laughed at all, and said to Alexis:  “These gentlemen are very practical!  Two thousand rubles are estimated by them at a higher rate than the proudest title!  I comprehend that a title is a nonsensical thing, of which no real use can be made, but what beautiful dresses can be bought with two thousand rubles!  And that reminds me that you have not yet told me how you like this dress of mine!  You take so little notice of my toilet, dearest, and yet it is only for you that I change my dress seven or eight times a day; I would, every hour, please you better and better.”

“Oh, no dressing is necessary for that,” tenderly responded Alexis; and stooping, he whispered some words in her ear which pleased her well, and made her laugh heartily.

Meanwhile the dicing continued.  Blind luck scattered her gifts in the strangest manner; under-officers of the palace attained to high titles, and high officers with laughing faces won pipes of brandy; barons of the body-guard made of men who but a few days before had been serfs, were seen approaching the mirrors with vain coxcombry to see the effect of orders just won by a cast of the dice, or with greedy avidity pocketing the rubles which fortune had thrown to them!

It was a jovial and brilliant evening, and, in dismissing her friends, Elizabeth promised them many repetitions of it.

And she kept her word.  Frenzied merry-makings, pleasures and festivals of the roughest sorts were now the principal occupation of the new empress.  The amusement of her court, the providing it with new festivals and pleasures, she considered as the first and most important of her imperial duties; and these alone she endeavored to fulfil.